Gladius Reconnaissance Strike System Gives Polish Artillery Organic Surveillance and Precision Fires.

Poland is fielding the Gladius reconnaissance and strike system across operational units while expanding the program with 12 additional battery modules scheduled for delivery by 2030. The effort gives Polish artillery a more integrated sensor-to-shooter architecture combining unmanned reconnaissance command functions, battlefield analysis and precision engagement.

At MSPO 2026 in Kielce, the Polish Armed Forces are showing Gladius equipment already introduced into service alongside WB Group’s new Gladius 2 strike layer, highlighting the transition from individual unmanned platforms toward a battery-level reconnaissance and strike network. The expansion follows a May 28 contract financed through the European SAFE mechanism for 12 additional Gladius modules and builds on the capability first ordered in 2022, with the new systems intended to broaden the number of artillery formations able to conduct their own reconnaissance targeting and precision strike missions.

Related Topic: MSPO 2026 Official Online Show Daily News

Gladius is therefore better understood as an integrated reconnaissance and strike system than as a family of drones. Its air component combines FT-5 tactical unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance with BSP-U effectors and reusable BSP-UT platforms intended for training. On the ground, the battery includes command vehicles, universal launchers, ammunition transport vehicles, technical support assets and mobile analysis stations. These elements are connected through WB Group's TOPAZ integrated combat management system, which transfers sensor information and targeting data between crews, reconnaissance platforms and effectors. Depending on the mission, Gladius can operate as a complete battery module or be divided into platoon and section-level elements.

The FT-5 forms the main reconnaissance layer. WB Group offers the aircraft in IMINT, ELINT and SAR configurations, allowing the same platform family to collect electro-optical imagery, detect radio-electronic emissions or conduct radar reconnaissance. Available documentation gives the FT-5 a wingspan of 6.4 meters and an operational ceiling of 5,000 meters above mean sea level. This range of sensors is relevant against moving or concealed targets and in situations where direct visual observation is limited. In the Polish configuration, information collected by the FT-5 is integrated into TOPAZ to reduce the number of steps between target detection and a fire decision.

The strike component is based on BSP-U effectors developed for the Polish Armed Forces, while WARMATE 5-10 can be integrated into other system configurations. WB Group states that this class of effector can carry warheads weighing between 5 and 10 kg, including high-explosive fragmentation, shaped-charge, and thermobaric types. Company documentation also gives a radio range of more than 100 km under radio line-of-sight conditions. Gladius 2 is intended to extend this framework further, with WB Group stating in 2026 that new effectors developed under the program are designed to engage selected high-value targets at distances of several hundred kilometers.

The land component is equally central to the system. Universal launch ramps allow several types of unmanned platforms to be operated from a common architecture, while command and analysis vehicles serve as mobile nodes for mission planning and target processing. Systems intended for the Polish Army use the Waran 4x4 vehicle for certain launch and command functions. This organization supports the dispersal of assets, relocation after launches and resupply through dedicated ammunition vehicles. Technical teams also provide field diagnostics and repair capabilities. Gladius therefore functions as a mobile fire module rather than as a stand-alone weapon.

At the tactical level, this architecture is intended primarily to shorten the chain between detection and engagement. The FT-5 can search beyond the immediate line of contact for command posts, armored concentrations, artillery positions, or selected air-defense assets. Once a target is identified, the data can be transferred through TOPAZ and assigned to a BSP-U while surveillance continues. The manufacturer also states that the system is designed to operate in electronic warfare environments and can continue certain missions when GNSS signals are disrupted or spoofed. Announced flight modes include waypoint navigation, loitering over a target area, attack, and return to a safe zone. At the operational level, Gladius provides Polish artillery with an additional option for counter-battery missions, attacks against command infrastructure and pressure on rear-area targets.

The implications extend beyond the modernization of the Polish Armed Forces. Warsaw is gradually building a national architecture linking sensors, communications, battle management and precision effectors while increasing the number of formations able to operate it. For NATO, particularly on its eastern flank, Gladius adds an intermediate layer between conventional tactical artillery and more costly long-range missile systems. The approach also reflects a broader European trend in which sovereign data links, domestic production and distributed strike systems are becoming more prominent in deterrence planning. Over time, the expansion of systems in this category could alter the depth of areas exposed to precision attack and influence how European armed forces organize their reconnaissance and fires networks.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.